Surrender: Erotic Tales of Female Pleasure and Submission

Rachel Kramer Bussel's bestselling books of submissive women and dominant men showcase our fantasies, desires, and deepest wishes. For those (and there are MANY) who love to be tired up, spanked, blindfolded, bound, or "used," for another's pleasure, these are books of inspiration. And, of course, these smart subs are getting exactly what THEY really want in very many ways

Rachel Kramer Bussel's bestselling books of submissive women and dominant men showcase our fantasies, desires, and deepest wishes. For those (and there are MANY) who love to be tired up, spanked, blindfolded, bound, or "used," for another's pleasure, these are books of inspiration. And, of course, these smart subs are getting exactly what THEY really want in very many ways.

Good BDSM erotica makes us understand all the emotions that can come into play when, well, playing: there can be uncertainty, nervousness, fear, excitement. Each of the 22 stories in Surrender are blazingly hot and because they illuminate some aspect of submission. The authors of the stories understand the art of submission and the thrill of surrender, whether that’s personal space, sight (Without Eyes” by Terri Pray) or culinary choices (Lunch” by Elizabeth Coldwell).What the women here want is to give up part of themselves to gain something else. They may still be skittish, but overcoming their fears, surrendering to them, yields beauty, pleasure and, in its way, power.

Community Reviews

Cleis Press has produced numerous popular erotic anthologies. This one is part of a second-generation collection of stories that were originally published in earlier Cleis anthologies. The repackaging is likely to attract new readers, especially since the reprint anthologies are based on relatively new themes. For example, the sex in this anthology is all heterosexual and male Dominant/female submissive. All the stories but one are drawn from earlier Cleis anthologies edited by Rachel Kramer BusCleis Press has produced numerous popular erotic anthologies. This one is part of a second-generation collection of stories that were originally published in earlier Cleis anthologies. The repackaging is likely to attract new readers, especially since the reprint anthologies are based on relatively new themes. For example, the sex in this anthology is all heterosexual and male Dominant/female submissive. All the stories but one are drawn from earlier Cleis anthologies edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, including He's On Top, Yes, Sir, Spanked, Bottoms Up, Orgasmic, Do Not Disturb (hotel sex), and Mile-High Club (airplane sex).

The repackaging emphasizes the theme and invites comparisons. Some of the Doms in this collection are stern, cold and remote, while some seem more like nurturing Daddies who take care of their girls. Some of the submissive women in these stories resist their own desires until they learn to trust the right Master. The emotional paradox at the heart of these relationships is summed up by the submissive narrator of "The Royalton - A Daray Tale" by Tess Danesi: "The price for his [the master's] love is high; the bruises, more often present than not, on my ass and thighs are tangible manifestations of his sometimes sadistic excesses. But at the same time, no one has stood by me, loved me, and defended me with such vehemence. I often wonder at my ability to fear him and to trust him at the same time."

Although male Dominant/female submissive relationships are probably closer to being "mainstream" than other pairings in the kinky world, the characters in these stories are far from ordinary. "Belted" by the editor, and "The Hardest Part" by Alison Tyler, are poetically vivid descriptions of the subjective experience of being beaten that leave the reader in no doubt that these women are strong and self-aware. Several stories, notably "In Control" by M. Christian, refer to a traditional dating scenario in which a woman wonders if her date will ever call her again if she goes "all the way." Nothing can be taken for granted here, either by the reader or by the characters, and the moment-by-moment suspense is a major ingredient in the turn-on. For fans of this particular flavor of BDSM, this book is a library (or a play party) unto itself.

A rehash of stories that have appeared in other (mostly Cleis) anthologies. Some of them are excellent stories, including Ms. Bussel's "Belted". However, if you bought this collection expecting new thrills, you would be disappointed. (If I had bought it - I received a copy to review for another site - I would feel ripped off.) Also, many of the stories are really only loosely tied to the theme of submission. An example is Justine Elyot's "The London O", a really hot story, but not, in my opinionA rehash of stories that have appeared in other (mostly Cleis) anthologies. Some of them are excellent stories, including Ms. Bussel's "Belted". However, if you bought this collection expecting new thrills, you would be disappointed. (If I had bought it - I received a copy to review for another site - I would feel ripped off.) Also, many of the stories are really only loosely tied to the theme of submission. An example is Justine Elyot's "The London O", a really hot story, but not, in my opinion, D/s....more

I'm a writer, editor, book reviewer, journalist, interviewer, blogger, and event organizer. I've edited over 50 anthologies, and my books have won 8 IPPY (Independent Publisher) Awards. I have written for Alternet, The Daily Beast, Elle.com, The Frisky, Glamour, Gothamist, Harper's Bazaar, Huffington Post, Inked, Jezebel, Mediabistro, New York Post, The New York Observer, Penthouse, The Root, SaloI'm a writer, editor, book reviewer, journalist, interviewer, blogger, and event organizer. I've edited over 50 anthologies, and my books have won 8 IPPY (Independent Publisher) Awards. I have written for Alternet, The Daily Beast, Elle.com, The Frisky, Glamour, Gothamist, Harper's Bazaar, Huffington Post, Inked, Jezebel, Mediabistro, New York Post, The New York Observer, Penthouse, The Root, Salon, Slate, Time Out New York, xoJane, and other publications, and am a former columnist for The Village Voice. I ran the longtime In The Flesh Reading Series in NYC and teach erotic writing workshops at colleges, conferences and sex toy stores. See my website for more information and writing samples. I blog at http://lustylady.blogspot.com and http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com"...more